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A congenial, intimate and good-value guesthouse in the unspoilt
Sierra Subbética's vast olive belt, ideal for walkers and
foodies

A quintessential vision of Andalucia: undulating olive groves,
limestone outcrops topped by Arab watchtowers, eagles wheeling
overhead and that glorious sense of space. It's easy to see why
English owners Tim and Claire chose to build their Shangri La in
this leafy valley in the unspoilt Subbética hills then named
it after the olea europaea (olive tree). He worked as a tour
guide in Latin America, she with a swish hotel group, and with
their shared nous they have fashioned this former cortijo
into a remote rural retreat where the beauty is in every
detail.

First to greet you will be Ruby, a lolloping mutt who's the third
member of the Olea triumvirate. Moving inside things feel big and
airy, with a spectacular double-height stairwell leading up to the
6 simple, stylish and surprisingly cheap bedrooms. For a
large part of the year life gravitates to a river-facing terrace
where you're accompanied by birdsong during the day and the call of
a Scops owl when darkness falls. It's a perfect base for escapism;
Tim has mapped out walking routes and cycle rides straight from the
house, and there are fascinating villages on your doorstep for day
visits. And we applaud Olea's eco approach, in which recycling and
sustainability play lead roles.

Save to favouritesPrintMailCasa OleaA quintessential vision of Andalucia: undulating olive groves, limestone outcrops topped by Arab watchtowers, eagles wheeling overhead and that glorious sense of space. It's easy to see why English owners Tim and Claire chose to build their Shangri La in this leafy valley in the unspoilt Subbética hills then named it after the olea europaea (olive tree). He worked as a tour guide in Latin America, she with a swish hotel group, and with their shared nous they have fashioned this former cortijo into a remote rural retreat where the beauty is in every detail.
First to greet you will be Ruby, a lolloping mutt who's the third member of the Olea triumvirate. Moving inside things feel big and airy, with a spectacular double-height stairwell leading up to the 6 simple, stylish and surprisingly cheap [r:SP081:bedrooms]. For a large part of the year life gravitates to a river-facing terrace where you're accompanied by birdsong during the day and the call of a Scops owl when darkness falls. It's a perfect base for escapism; Tim has mapped out walking routes and cycle rides straight from the house, and there are fascinating villages on your doorstep for day visits. And we applaud Olea's eco approach, in which recycling and sustainability play lead roles.